News
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Clean Indoor Air Act Closes “Dangerous Loophole”, says Cuomo

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ALBANY (WSKG) – New Yorkers who use e-cigarettes will have to comply with the same limits on smoking in public that apply to regular cigarettes, now that Governor Cuomo has signed a bill into law. But anti- smoking advocates say more needs to be done to combat the rising use of the nicotine product.  Cuomo says the new law closes a “dangerous loophole” in the state’s clean Indoor Air Act, which limits cigarette smoking in public places. Those same restrictions will now apply to smokeless e-cigarettes. They will no longer be permitted in public places including bars, restaurants and work places. E-cigarettes were not widely available when the Clean Indoor Act was first enacted in 2003.

Education
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SUNY Chancellor Promises Continued Monitoring Of Charter Schools

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The Chancellor of the State University of New York is defending a SUNY board committee’s decision to lower some requirements for teachers at some charter schools.  Dr. Kristina Johnson, who began her job as Chancellor in September, says SUNY will continue to hold the 185 charter schools that it regulates to high standards. But she does not disagree with a Board of Trustee committee’s decision to allow charter schools to develop their own certification plans for teachers. The charter schools would be able to require fewer qualifications than is mandated by charter schools certified by the state education department, in some case requiring as little as 40 hours of active classroom time in order to be certified. Dr. Johnson says the schools, like all charter schools under SUNY  will continue to be monitored. “We’ve shut down 19 schools that didn’t meet those standards, so, we’ll see how this goes forward,” Johnson said , in a wide ranging interview interview with public radio and television.

Arts

Kitchen Theatre Presents ‘Brahman/i’

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Kitchen Theatre presents Aditi Brennan Kapil’s ‘Brahman/i’. We hear from actor Aila Peck about her character in this creative telling of the life of this individual who may or may not be a Hindu deity. “Kitchen Theatre Company transforms into a comedy club featuring a very unusual and completely hilarious stand-up routine in the second play of our season. Meet, B or  Brahman/i, a boy/girl from Athens, Georgia who explores everything from his/her/their Indian heritage to history, mythology, gender roles, and horrifying middle school experiences, with the assistance of J, electric bass playing side-kick.  

 

Photo credit: Kitchen Theatre

News
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Still At-Odds With House, PA Senate Assembles New Gambling Plan

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HARRISBURG (WSKG) — This week the state Senate is expected to consider a budget proposal that’s already been approved by the House, and leaders say the borrowing-heavy plan might be the only avenue to finding consensus.  But disagreements remain on a key component of the revenue package: how to expand gambling. Many House members have long wanted to legalize remote video gaming terminals–or VGTs– in bars and taverns. They argue illegal terminals already exist, and should be regulated. But in the Senate, leaders have been blunt. Republicans and Democrats both say the terminals are off the table.

News

Fights Over Transgender Coverage In PA Could Delay CHIP Reauthorization

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HARRISBURG (WSKG) — A Senate committee has moved a bill to reauthorize Pennsylvania’s Children’s Health Insurance Program–or CHIP. CHIP has existed for decades in Pennsylvania. But this time, the bill is controversial. It includes a component that would prohibit the state from insuring transgender kids’ transition surgeries and related needs, like counseling. In August 2016, the commonwealth’s longstanding policy to not cover reassignment surgeries and associated services changed, when the Obama administration issued a rule saying Medicaid and CHIP couldn’t exclude or limit coverage for gender confirmation-related services.

About

Major Gifts Officer

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WSKG Public Media TV and Radio in Binghamton, New York, has an immediate opening for a Major Gifts Officer. This person is responsible for ensuring that the organization’s systems and procedures support major gift cultivation and retention. It will be the efforts you undertake planning, coordinating, and implementing major donor activities that develop donors and contributions in support of WSKG. Under your care, accountability and compliance standards for donors and funding will be maintained. You will report to the Director of Development and Marketing and work closely with development and marketing staff to enhance all aspects of fundraising.

News
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New York’s Top Two Democrats Team Up Against Federal Tax Changes

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ALBANY (WSKG) –  The state’s governor and senior senator teamed up to urge New York’s Congressional delegation to oppose a provision in the federal tax overhaul plan that they say could be harmful to the state’s taxpayers and New York’s economy. Speaking outside a suburban home in Albany County, Senator Chuck Schumer and Governor Andrew Cuomo called the federal plan to get rid of the state and local tax deductions “double taxation”. Schumer says middle class New Yorkers will pay more money in taxes each year if the proposal is approved. They cite a study from the Institute for Taxation and Economic Policy, which finds the GOP plan would cause 23 percent of New York taxpayers making $65,900 to $111,100 to see an average tax increase of $460,  and 42 percent of taxpayers making between $111,100 and $240,900 to see an average tax increase of $1,960 next year. “That’s a lot of money out of the pockets of middle class and upper middle call New Yorker’s,” Schumer said.

About

Director of Development & Marketing

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Are you creative, outgoing, organized, with a flair for fundraising and a passion for public broadcasting? Do you thrive on meeting goals and deadlines? WSKG Public Media TV and Radio in Binghamton, New York, has an immediate opening for a Director of Development and Marketing. This person is the chief fundraising officer for our organization, and oversees a staff that includes major gifts, membership, planned giving, promotion, business and non-profit sponsorship, audience services and digital efforts. You should demonstrate outstanding writing and communication skills.

Arts

‘Brew Beats’ Returns!

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WSKG’s concert series Brew Beats returns Thursday, October 26 at 8PM, with two new episodes. Brew Beats is a music show that follows the roads that connect Upstate New York’s dynamic and growing breweries and cideries. The night kicks off at The FarmHouse Brewery in Owego, where we talk with owner Marty Mattrazzo about what makes their products so unique. We also welcome talented jazz duo Sharada Shashidhar and Jamael Dean. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=biNraZp1KTs&feature=youtu.be

Then at 8:30PM, we head to Water Street Brewing Co. in downtown Binghamton.

Arts

WSKG Loves the Arts Tour

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WSKG is dedicated to promoting the arts of the region and beyond. So, we’re taking an art tour with our President and CEO, Greg Catlin. We’ll be visiting local galleries throughout the region, exploring the arts and meeting some of WSKG’s great listeners and viewers. That’s you. We hope you’ll join Greg and the personalities from WSKG at a gallery near you.